And the people stayed home. And read books, and listened, and rested, and exercised, and made art, and played games, and learned new ways of being, and were still. And listened more deeply. Some meditated, some prayed, some danced. Some met their shadows. And the people began to think differently.

And the people healed. And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways, the earth began to heal.

And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed.

– Kitty O’Meara

There’s a good chance you’ve read those beautiful words that are floating around the social media sphere currently. They give my heart such pause. I was doing some research this morning doing my very best to learn who Kitty O’Meara is and if they’re her words. From the very little I found, she’s likely the one who translated them to English after hearing them spoken by an Italian man last week. And if you know more, please let me know.

Before we go any further into this conversation, I would invite you to read that quote one more time, take a deep breath, and slowly let it go. Just breathe for a moment.

Our world ground to an unexpected halt over the weekend. Shops are closed. Many of us are at home adjusting to a rather quick change to our daily rhythms. It’s easy to be disrupted, frustrated, scared. I’ve been all of those things over the past few days myself. But I’m also experiencing something else – rest. With an abrupt halt to our usual lives, we’ve been given the immense gift of time. I wonder – how would it change your day to breathe in rest between the moments of fear, anxiety, and uncertainty?

As someone who has had my own battles of anxiety even in a normal day-to-day, this has not been an easy week. Maybe you’re with me. And if uncertainty is weighing heavily on your mind right now, you’re in great company (just turn on the news or do a quick scroll in your insta feed to see all those who are with you). And while I think it’s only normal to have some level of concern, I also want to present a different opportunity.

Can we show up in a way that lets us receive this gift of time. Less busy. Less worry. More togetherness. More joy. Can we embrace the extra hours and solitude to learn something we’ve been waiting to; Move in a way we don’t often have time to; Sit in the sunshine for an entire hour; Spend an entire day with our families; grow and rest? Can we emerge on the other side of this a bit more rested?

I think so. And I’m being careful to introduce rest into this new rhythm in a few ways which I’ll share in a minute. And I’ll invite you to read the simple things I’m choosing to do; but I’d also like to challenge you to slip outside or maybe into your own quiet space for a few minutes, close your eyes and breathe, and then jot down a few things that sound perfectly lovely. Here are mine:

1. Journaling first thing in the morning. This likely isn’t surprising, but I love to write. It helps me process; and even more so, it helps me notice things that I easily and otherwise overlook. Sometimes I simply list out a few gratitudes, and other times I work through a concern or thought by writing. But most of all, I find it therapeutic to open a page and let my pen move without too much thought, just filling up pages with words and thoughts that don’t necessarily need to have significance.
2. Reading. If there’s one thing I am loving most out of this slower pace, it is more time to read. If you’re interested in reading something new and wonderful, click here: The Best 5 Books I Read Last Year.
3. Video Calls with dear friends and family. I truly think I have gotten to have wonderful conversations with more friends in the past few days than the last month combined. There’s a camaraderie and also a beautiful support system that is happening with all those around me. While this pandemic is hard and overwhelming, I’ve also been so grateful for how it is forcing me to lean on my people. And I’ve loved getting to see so many people via video call.
4. Sitting in the sunshine. I never make time to do this, and I’ve done it every day for nearly a week. It is bliss to me and I am absolutely going to be sure I make more time to do this when we settle back into more normal rhythms.

They’re so simple. But it’s really helped me move from anxiety into rest.

And I’d love to hear some other suggestions for things you’re doing to embrace this season of rest! Leave a comment below, or send me a smoke signal if you prefer!